Sweeps

[Babyitscoldouts1de]

I am 38+6. My first pregnancy ended with an emergency cesarean, this time I am hoping for VBAC. Because of the previous cesarean, I saw the consultant around 34 weeks and he said you can do sweeps from 37 weeks.

I have so far refused this with my midwife as from what I have read they are uncomfortable and can only be done properly if you have already started dilating. Also, the statistics given all say that at x weeks pregnant you have xx chance of labour after a sweep, but none of them say what the comparable figure is without a sweep.

I had a traumatic birth last time and don't want any unnecessary intervention this time around, but fine with anything necessary of course. Is anyone able to say if sweeps actually work and if the benefits outweigh the risk e.g. pain, increased chance of infection etc?

I had sweeps with both my babies. I wouldn't say it was painful more uncomfortable and both babies were born the morning after the sweep.

Had 2 in my first pregnancy, she came the day after the second one.
Had one yesterday lunch and he’s still in there, will have another next Friday if he’s not out by then.
I found it uncomfortable but not painful. She said to let her know if I wanted her to stop at any point.

I would agree - more uncomfortable than painful, no worse than a smear. I had one at 39+4 and my contractions started that night and baby was born on her due date

I would have one again for any future pregnancies

I've got a sweep booked for Friday (due date is tomorrow) and because I'm an uber nerd I was just looking at the Cochrane review for the effectiveness of sweeps to help me decide whether to go ahead or decline.

The general conclusion from amassing all the different research is that a sweep "promotes the onset of labour" but it is not as effective as other induction methods so shouldn't be used if the person is markedly overdue.

Actual quoted paragraph below....
Full article Here

"The available data suggest that sweeping of the membranes promotes the onset of labour. When performed in unselected women, sweeping of the membranes reduces the risk of post-term pregnancy and the use of other methods of induction of labour. However, the rationale for performing routinely an intervention with the potential to induce labour in women with an uneventful pregnancy at 38 weeks of gestation is, at least, questionable. Sweeping of the membranes has less predictable results than the other methods and the intervention is probably not appropriate if urgent induction of labour is indicated. When the reason for induction is non-urgent, some women may prefer sweeping of membranes instead of more formal methods for labour induction."

Also the review makes a point of saying that some women find the procedure uncomfortable

"The frequency of major side-effects was not increased, but women in the sweeping group reported discomfort during the intervention, bleeding and irregular contractions. This must be taken into account while discussing management options with women for whom induction of labour is decided."

Apologies for the essay, but it has helped me to make a decision!

I think if labour isn't far away then a sweep can hurry things along. Conversely, a woman can have many sweeps over several weeks with no results.
Keep active, use a birth ball, spend time on all fours and perhaps wait until after 50 weeks to try a sweep.
Good luck 💚

40 weeks!

I have had lots of sweeps over the years. Well more like attempts of them as i was always closed and I never had any results from them but again it’s probably because I wasn’t favourable. I wouldn’t say they are painful but more like uncomfortable. If it means I could go into natural labour and not be induced (like I was 2 out of 3) then I would definitely opt to have a sweep!

I had a sweep yesterday at 38 + 5 - labour started a few hours later and my baby girl arrived a few hours after that! The midwife said that for 2nd babies there's a much better chance of it having an impact. It was a little uncomfortable but nothing too bad. Good luck!

Thank you for all your advice, particularly the essay as I was interested in the science. Unfortunately due to other medical issues I do now have to have another cesarean, so VBAC is off the table. I am sad that I don't get a chance to have a natural birth ever as this will be the last one, but got to do what is safest for the baby.